Method of constructing platform shoes



'April 26, 1949-y F. J. DIAMANT l 2,468,617

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING PLATFORM SHOES Filed NOV. 29, 1945 oww Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD F CONG PLATFORM Fred J. Diamant, New York, N. Y. Application November 29, 1945, SerialNo. 631,:545 1 Claim. (01.12-142) This invention relates to platform type shoe constructions, and more particularly to novel shoe platform constructions.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel platform for shoes having a stitching margin to which other elements of the shoe may be readily and easily secured; to provide a shoe platform construction comprising `layers of material which are temporarily held together during construction of the shoe and permanently secured together in the nal assembly of the shoe; to provide a shoe platform construction in which the platform can be of any desired height without any consequent weakening of the platform; to provide anovel, efficient and simple composite platform for shoes; and to provide a novel method of constructing a platform shoe.

These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will -b-e apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top .plan view of a shoe platform constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the platform shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the platform of Figs. l and 2 .secured to a combined shoe upper, platform cover land sock lining.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through a shoe incorporating the platform of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan View ofa shoe platform embodying a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of the platform shown in Fig. 5.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are side elevation views of further embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view illustrating the platform of Figs. 5 'and 6 as secured 'to a combined shoe upper, platform cover and sock lining.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view illustrating the platform of Figs. 5 and 6 vas embodied in a shoe construction.

According to the present invention, a shoe platform of a composite nature is provided with a stitching margin to upper and the platform cover may be attached as a unit. The platform comprises a layer of cushioning material, such as felt or sponge rubber, in juxtaposition with a layer -of reinforcing material such as paper-board. The stitching which the sock lining, the

margin is yprovided either by :making the upper layer of the .platform narrower than the lower layer or by routing outamargin around theed'ge of the composite platform.

In a modified form of the invention, the cushioning layer 'is secured to the reinforcing layer temporarily by suitable means such as nails, staples or the like, after vwhich -it is incorporated with the shoe' upper. Thelstitching securing the shoe upper to the platform serves the additional function 'of securing the 'two layers of the platform in Aassembled relation. If the vplatform is .provid-ed withastitching margin, the two layers may be either temporarily secured together by staples or nails'and permanently secured-together by the shoe stitching, or the two layers maybe :initially cemented together.

Platforms of any desired thickness may be provided by suitably combining alternate layers of The invention yavoids the need of cementing 'the platform to the shoe insole or sock lining or for accurately spotting the insole and platform. vDue to such simplification, theshoe may be constructed by less skilled labor and at less expense. The provision of the reinforcing layer secured v`to the cushioning layer enables hthe shoe to be put over a last without deformation of the cushinning layer as would occur were no reinforcing provided therefor. The resultant shoe is lessstiff since no cement is used 'to fasten the platform to the insole, and the foot can breathe through the insole due -to the lack o'f cement. The upper and the platform are combined in one single unit by a single series of stitches.

As a result, a lightweight shoe having grea't iiexibility is provided which is more comfortable Tto wear and cheaper to make. With the stitching margin provided, the folded over portion of the shoe platform'cover and of the shoe upper and sock lining 4lie substantially within the peripheral outline of the platform making the shoe lapn*- pear less bulky and of less width than the usual shoe 'of this type. The shoe 'construction is paring 23. Stitching l used between layer "cured beneath heel 21 outer sole Sil is then secured to the lower margin secure the platform I6,

vinvention in which a ticularly advantageous in open heel or toe shoes in that the exposed part of the shoe retains its neat, clean looking, sharp edged appearance.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. l through 4 illustrate a shoe platform I5 comprising an upper layer I6 of cushioning material, such as felt or sponge rubber, and a lower layer of reinforcing or stiffening material I'I, such as fiber-board, paper-board, cardboard, leather or the like. In a manner to be described, layers I6 and I1, may either be simply superposed one on the other without being secured together, or may be permanently secured together by cement. Alternatively, the two layers may be united by suitable means such as nails, stapling or the like, and then secured as a unit with the remainder of the shoe during the shoe construction operation.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. l, layer I6 is made narrower than layer I1 to provide a stitching lower stitching margin 2| of upper 20 and the stitching margin 22 of platform cover 25. Such stitching margin may be provided either by initially making layer I5 smaller than layer I1 or by making both layers the same size as by stampfing platform I5 from a large sheet of composite material, and -then routing out a portion of layer to provide stitching margin I8.

In assembling the shoe, upper 2t, sock lining 2B, and platform cover together in the relation shown in Fig. 3 by stitchmargins I9, 2i and 22 are then placed in stitching recess I8 and are secured to reinforcing layer I1 of platform I5 by stitching 2li. Stitching 2A may be done by a machine making a loop chain stitch through the several stitching margins and layer I1. No cement need be I1, sock lining 26, upper and platform cover 25.

To complete the shoe, a heel member 21 may be mounted adjacent the rear portion of layer Il, as shown in Fig. 4, and platform cover 25 is reversed on itself and its lower margin 28 is seand beneath layer i1. An

28 o1' platform cover 25 in any suitable manner,

,and a lift 3I is secured to the shoe in the usual manner.

Due to the fact that adhesive is not used to I1 to the insole of sock lining 2.6, a shoe of greater flexibility is provided. Also, as hereinabove referred to, the foot rcan breathe therethrough. Additionally, the platform, its cover, the shoe upper and the sock lining form a unitary construction secured together by ,stitching 2d, increasing the life and stability of the shoe.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of the layer of cushioning maby suitable means such as staples 38 to form a platform 35. Staples 38 form temporary securing means for layers and 3f. The two layers are permanently secured together, and in unitary relation with the shoe upper and platform cover, in a manner to be described in connection with Figs. 9 and 10.

A further important feature of my present invention is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 wherein the platform is made in any desired thickness, while still retaining its cushioning effect as well as its dimensional stability. In Fig. '7, alternate layers of cushioning material 36 and of reinforcing material 31 are secured together, such as by staples 38, to form a thick platform 4G. Cushioning margin I8 for receiving the 25 are initially secured the like.

layers 36 may be any suitable cushioning materia1 such as matted fiber, sponge rubber or the like, and reinforcing layers 31 may be any suitable relatively stiff material such as cardboard, fiber-board, leather or the like.

Fig. 8 illustrates a thick platform 45 comprising two layers of cushioning material 36 secured in juxtaposition with each other and with a reinforcing layer 31 by means of staples 38. Fig. 9, a platform 50 is provided by a relatively thick layer of cushioning material 4I secured to a relatively thin layer of reinforcing material 42. Cushioning material 4I makes up most of the height of platform 50 and is retained in dimensional stability by reinforcing layer 42 to which it is secured by staples 43.

Preferably, the peripheral edges of the felt cushioning layers are coated with animal glue or The glue stiifens the peripheral edges, which reinforces the platform so that it is more stable and keeps its peripheral shape better during handling and assembling in a shoe. The glue is preferably applied after the peripheral shape of the cushioning layers has been determined, and preferably after such layers have been incorporated into a platform assembly.

Figs. l0 and 11 illustrate how platforms of the type shown in Figs. 5 through 9 may be incorporated into a shoe. For exemplary purposes only, the platform 35 of Figs. 5 and 6 is used as an illustration. In so assembling the shoe, upper 55 is secured to platform cover 60 and insole or sock lining 62 by stitching 56. The stitching margins 51, 5i; and 59 of upper 55, platform cover 6d and sock lining 62 are then secured to platform 35 by stitching 6I. Stitching 6I likewise permanently unites layer 36 to reinforcing layer Platform 6B is its lower margin layer 31 of platform 35 to cured in any desired manner.

vis then secured to margin 63 of platform cover til-to complete the shoe. During the assembling operation, upper 55 may be stretched to shape over a last so that it will attain its final shape, which it retains, without deformation of platform 35. This is due to the fact that platform 35 includes a reinforcing layer 31. Furthermore, the platform comprises an integral part of the shoe assembly to which it is united by stitching 6I. The same construction shown in Figs. 10 and 1l can be used with the platforms shown in Figs, '7, 8 and 9.

A lightweight shoe of great flexibility is thus provided, comprising a reinforced cushioning platform forming an integral part of the completed shoe and which retains its shape during manufacture of the shoe thus permitting the upper of the shoe to be shaped over a last to attain a preset shape. When stitching margin I8 is provided as in Figs. 1 through 4, the upper and the platform cover lie within the peripheral outline of the shoe platform providing a neat, clean appearing shoe.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles thereof, it will be understood'that the invention may be otherwise embodied, without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

A method of constructing a platform shoe comprising uniting a layer of cushioning material to a layer of reinforcing material to provide a plat- 6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,841,058 Rosenwasser Jan. 12, 1932 2,329,725 Mondl Sept. 21, 1943 2,386,809 Maling Oct. 13, 1945 10 2,405,870 Almy Aug. 13, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 267,828 Great Britain Mar. 24, 1917 

